DARING JUNGLE TRAVERSE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 7 February 1944, Page 5

DARING JUNGLE TRAVERSE

U.S. PATROLS CROSS BOUGAINVILLE ADVANCE TO NUMANUMA Sydney, Feb. 6. In a daring traverse through heavy jungle country, American patrols have crossed Bougainville Island, northern Solomons, for the first time. They have reached Numanuma, 45 miles south-east of Bonis, an important Japanese air base on the northern tip of Bougainville. Their advance was made from Empress Augusta Bay on the west coast Of Bougainville, where United States forces landed on Ist November. Numanuma is 24 air miles from Empress Augusta Bay, but the track distance is much further. Americans killed or wounded 40 Japanese in a patrol clash five miles west of Numanuma.

The Japanese have been using Numanuma as a staging point for their forces moving from the south of Bougainville to the north. Enemy troops are still entrenched north of the Americans’ Empress Augusta Bay beachhead. Their positions are being held by United States artillery. A.I.F. PROGRESS IN NEW GUINEA Australian troops have made important advances on two fronts in New Guinea. In a. two-pronged drive on the Japanese coastal base of Bogadjim, one Australian force is now just two miles from the end of the motor road running to the base—eighten air miles away; on the Huon Peninsula coast other Australians advancing from Sio have reached Nemau and only 24 miles separate them from the American invasion force at Saidor.

The motor road from Bogadjim leading to the Ramu Valley follows a winding course of 30 miles. Bogadjim is only 15 miles South of the important enemy base of Madang. To get within two miles of this road the Australians advanced from Kaukiryo Saddle which they -oocupied on 23th January. There has been no sign yet of any organised stand by the Japanese. A number of abandoned enemy posts has been found. To the 'vest the second prong of this Australian drive is only 16 air miles from Bogadjim.

The absence of any strong salients of Japanese resistance to the Australian advances towards Bogadjim and Saidor points to the enemy realisation that his positions in north-eastern New Guinea are rapidly becoming untenable. Indeed, with the development of the war in the Central Pacific a steady slackening has been evident in the tempo of fighting on New Guinea fronts. Only the ceaseless Allied air offensive against key enemy points has encountered more than spasmodic opposition. P.A. Special Australian Correspondent.